Many small businesses find a marketing method that works to some extent and then just repeat it again and again because they are afraid to change it.
Forms of marketing that worked a few years or even months ago can dry up.
Unless you measure it on a regular basis by using unique codes, offers or tracking telephone numbers it's likely you will get caught out.
Using the measuring techniques invest a little time and money to trial new marketing channels while keeping your staple methods going.
Have a great weekend :-)
This simple blog is just one of the tools available to let you know what it is we do. Many businesses miss simple opportunities to promote themselves effectively using what is termed as social media. To put it into real terms social media is a party on line where all forms of word of mouth referral goes on. I have found a simple but effective way of promoting your business to new and existing customers. Give me a call on 07990 640 374 or email me on realtimemarketingonline@live.com
Friday, 20 July 2012
Pick And Mix Your Marketing
Thursday, 19 July 2012
Customer Recommendations Beats Other Marketing By A Mile For SME Businesses
When marketeers approach a small business it is wise to bear in mind they will exist initially due to word of mouth recommendation than any other marketing medium.
When was the last time you recommended a business just because you wanted too?
We all say we will recommend our local guys but unless they ask us we plain forget. So the challenge for the business owner is not to be good enough to recommend but to be good enough at asking in the right way to get recommended.
Depending on the product and market One of the social platforms Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ or You Tube should fit.
Once the best of these has been selected then the right approach must be implemented and remember.
"Interaction Creates Consumer Action"
The better the relationship you build with existing customers the more they come back and use you.
For more on how to do this get in touch :-)
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
The right tools and planning makes social media easy
Have you ever wondered how the big boys manage to do so much more with their marketing?
It's a bit like the difference between a builder who does a good job and one who does a great job. A lot of the time it's down to the kit they use.
If they are bothered enough to get the best kit to do the job then they are bothered enough to do more with it.
The same with marketing if you are bothered enough to get the right tools you should be bothered enough to make the most of them.
Many of them use sophisticated CRM systems that allow them to follow up and measure responses to campaigns what are you using?
Social media has become a massive tool for many and managing it has become one of the biggest headaches for them.
To manage a social campaign it's all about how you set it up. Most platforms have apps that interact with other platforms allowing single postings to appear in multiple locations. There is however a danger of creating a loop which causes it's own issues.
Most businesses fall down by missing the most important part which is monitoring and responding to people's comments. This is why it's called social media.
If you need any help with organising your campaigns we can help so give us a call.
07990640374
Friday, 6 January 2012
When Employing A Telesales Company Make Sure They Fully Understand Your Business!!
I can't believe there are marketing companies out there who use Telesales companies to promote their products and don't check they know about them and their products.
I was called today by a lovely lady who at first didn't realise I had answered and was talking to a colleague, she did apologise.
She wanted to know who the marketing director was as the company she represented sold marketing tools to the advertising industry.
She knew nothing of what the products were or what they did and seemed unsure of the company name.
Needless to say I didn't go any further because there was no credibility for a marketing company doing such a poor job on the first contact.
There is a lesson here for ALL of us you only get one chance to make a first impression so be very careful who you get to do that for you and check they have enough information to represent you well :-)
Sent from my HTC
I was called today by a lovely lady who at first didn't realise I had answered and was talking to a colleague, she did apologise.
She wanted to know who the marketing director was as the company she represented sold marketing tools to the advertising industry.
She knew nothing of what the products were or what they did and seemed unsure of the company name.
Needless to say I didn't go any further because there was no credibility for a marketing company doing such a poor job on the first contact.
There is a lesson here for ALL of us you only get one chance to make a first impression so be very careful who you get to do that for you and check they have enough information to represent you well :-)
Sent from my HTC
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
When You Get your Marketing Right People Just Appear Everywhere
Why is it that people suddenly appear in the strangest places? Coincidence is there such a thing?
Have you ever decided to buy a certain kind of car and suddenly there are hundreds of them passing you every day? This can be classed as coincidence or as many people understand it's more an awareness thing its being open to the opportunity of it.
Do you remember the unlucky guy in Paul McKenna's programme about the "Lucky Dog Statue"? His problem wasn't about being unlucky but not being open to the idea that good luck was all around him until he became aware of it. The same happens for the car above and for business opportunities to grow. You have to take action to create the interest then you have to be open to the possibilities of the business coming in.
I have as you are probably aware been taking action to interact with many Leicester businesses through numerous ways to create the interest in joining me to build something special. I have networked, taken voluntary roles with organisations, helped charities, spoken to many on a one to one basis and been very active on Social Media.
I have been working very much at bringing benefit to the Leicester Businesses by building a Community of Excellence to serve the people of the city. This is made up of independent locally recommended businesses so we know they are providing great customer service.
Sounds pretty straight forward until you try to do it, then you find it's like moving a super tanker you have to keep pushing forwards without any noticeable change for months, then it moves a little and then a little more and now it's got momentum and growing naturally.
As a result of all my efforts and being open to possibilities I am now finding exactly the kind of businesses we want just turning up and contacting me. The human nature of curiosity is amazing as people notice me in one network they want to connect with me through another and then another until before you realise it you know each other well and doing business becomes second nature.
This is all brought about by lots of little efforts of engagement on my part as adding value to them and the more value I add the more they want to join in what I'm doing. This build a mutual respect between me and the prospects as it becomes obvious that by doing business with me we both gain which is how it should be.
Now people are connecting on LinkedIn and then through Twitter and then seeking me out on Facebook, sometimes through a chance meeting in the streets of Leicester or at a networking event but the result is the same. Look out for those opportunities to add value to everyone you meet and before long the same will happen for your business.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon. P.S. Remember you have a choice how you feel about things in life don't let others or the inner voice of doubt stop you from being who you really are! Enjoy life and have a great day... :-)
Have you ever decided to buy a certain kind of car and suddenly there are hundreds of them passing you every day? This can be classed as coincidence or as many people understand it's more an awareness thing its being open to the opportunity of it.
Do you remember the unlucky guy in Paul McKenna's programme about the "Lucky Dog Statue"? His problem wasn't about being unlucky but not being open to the idea that good luck was all around him until he became aware of it. The same happens for the car above and for business opportunities to grow. You have to take action to create the interest then you have to be open to the possibilities of the business coming in.
I have as you are probably aware been taking action to interact with many Leicester businesses through numerous ways to create the interest in joining me to build something special. I have networked, taken voluntary roles with organisations, helped charities, spoken to many on a one to one basis and been very active on Social Media.
I have been working very much at bringing benefit to the Leicester Businesses by building a Community of Excellence to serve the people of the city. This is made up of independent locally recommended businesses so we know they are providing great customer service.
Sounds pretty straight forward until you try to do it, then you find it's like moving a super tanker you have to keep pushing forwards without any noticeable change for months, then it moves a little and then a little more and now it's got momentum and growing naturally.
As a result of all my efforts and being open to possibilities I am now finding exactly the kind of businesses we want just turning up and contacting me. The human nature of curiosity is amazing as people notice me in one network they want to connect with me through another and then another until before you realise it you know each other well and doing business becomes second nature.
This is all brought about by lots of little efforts of engagement on my part as adding value to them and the more value I add the more they want to join in what I'm doing. This build a mutual respect between me and the prospects as it becomes obvious that by doing business with me we both gain which is how it should be.
Now people are connecting on LinkedIn and then through Twitter and then seeking me out on Facebook, sometimes through a chance meeting in the streets of Leicester or at a networking event but the result is the same. Look out for those opportunities to add value to everyone you meet and before long the same will happen for your business.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon. P.S. Remember you have a choice how you feel about things in life don't let others or the inner voice of doubt stop you from being who you really are! Enjoy life and have a great day... :-)
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Why Return On Investment No Longer Works In Marketing
We have all heard how we must get a ROI or return on investment for everything and that has been fine for many years in marketing to people and other businesses.
Although you will still be able to use this form of marketing for your business it is not as effective as it used to be and in many cases will damage your long term relationship with your clients and yes even your prospects.
The buying public have become sensitive to pushy or transaction marketing and tend to pull away from it as soon as they feel their choice is being taken away from them.
How then can you get them to buy from you?
Well it's called relationship or community marketing where it's not about ROI but ROE return on Engagement, how much you are valued as a reliable source of advice and information rather than how cleverly you can sell to them.
What has to be taken into account here are a number of factors:
1) At any one given time only 3% of the people you are marketing to are likely to be looking to buy right now.
2) With the rise in the internet and Social media platforms such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and LinkedIn just to name but a few, there is so much choice and opportunity for people to research before they buy.
3) Customer service is not just about remembering their name when they come into your shop / business they want to feel you care all the time not just when they are buying.
4) Once people decide to buy they want to be able to buy NOW! and get on with their lives so being in touch often is key to getting and keeping them as clients.
5) The real value of a business is not how good your product is but how a customer feels when they buy from you.
Bearing all this in mind have a look how you are interacting with your customers!
Are you meeting them on their level? i.e. do you have a Facebook page? Twitter profile? You Tube channel?
These are all places where you can interact with your customers freely and easily (if set up correctly) for just 10 mins/day and as a result you will be the place they come to when they are ready to buy, you will be the place they recommend to their friends and family and yes you will be the place they mention in their social networks for the whole world to see.
This is why a return on your Engagement is much more powerful than your Investment.... if you want more information on this subject then let me know and I will post further blogs or you can email me direct if you have a specific query that needs resolving at realtimemarketingonline@live.com
Looking forward to hearing from you soon. P.S. Remember you have a choice how you feel about things in life don't let others or the inner voice of doubt stop you from being who you really are! Enjoy life and have a great day...
Although you will still be able to use this form of marketing for your business it is not as effective as it used to be and in many cases will damage your long term relationship with your clients and yes even your prospects.
The buying public have become sensitive to pushy or transaction marketing and tend to pull away from it as soon as they feel their choice is being taken away from them.
How then can you get them to buy from you?
Well it's called relationship or community marketing where it's not about ROI but ROE return on Engagement, how much you are valued as a reliable source of advice and information rather than how cleverly you can sell to them.
What has to be taken into account here are a number of factors:
1) At any one given time only 3% of the people you are marketing to are likely to be looking to buy right now.
2) With the rise in the internet and Social media platforms such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and LinkedIn just to name but a few, there is so much choice and opportunity for people to research before they buy.
3) Customer service is not just about remembering their name when they come into your shop / business they want to feel you care all the time not just when they are buying.
4) Once people decide to buy they want to be able to buy NOW! and get on with their lives so being in touch often is key to getting and keeping them as clients.
5) The real value of a business is not how good your product is but how a customer feels when they buy from you.
Bearing all this in mind have a look how you are interacting with your customers!
Are you meeting them on their level? i.e. do you have a Facebook page? Twitter profile? You Tube channel?
These are all places where you can interact with your customers freely and easily (if set up correctly) for just 10 mins/day and as a result you will be the place they come to when they are ready to buy, you will be the place they recommend to their friends and family and yes you will be the place they mention in their social networks for the whole world to see.
This is why a return on your Engagement is much more powerful than your Investment.... if you want more information on this subject then let me know and I will post further blogs or you can email me direct if you have a specific query that needs resolving at realtimemarketingonline@live.com
Looking forward to hearing from you soon. P.S. Remember you have a choice how you feel about things in life don't let others or the inner voice of doubt stop you from being who you really are! Enjoy life and have a great day...
Tuesday, 30 August 2011
Why MacDonalds Is NOT The Place To Meet For Business!!
MacDonalds has managed to market itself fantastically well to the consumer on all levels and you have to take your hat off to them.
When they announced the "Cloud WiFi" had been installed I thought wow they are now looking to get businesses involved and build up a loyalty from them too. I can't deny it I was impressed and thought they were a forward thinking company.
Until NOW due to their issues with car parking they have instructed "MET Parking Services Ltd" to discourage their customers by enforcing very unfair parking fines.
I have recently discovered that they have a strict rule on car parking which means that unless you can all turn up at exactly the same time and get parked and leave within a 60 / 75 / 90 min restriction then there is no point trying to meet there. It may be that this is their goal and driving the business man away from their eateries even late at night is what they want to do.
A £4.39 meal can very quickly turn into a £104.39 meal if you don't keep an eye on the time, I know it's fast food but then why have WiFi in the first place?
See this clip from Watchdog in 2010 where members of the public have been heavily peanalised for using the restaurant more than once in a short period too.
http://bbc.in/oneUKg
They have gained a parking fine of cash from this "PAST" customer and lost a lifetime of future sales. Not such good marketing in the end then because they stopped valuing their customers and focussed on dealing with a small issue by force not power.... What your customers say about your business is far more powerful than anything you can say whether that be positive or NEGATIVE!
When they announced the "Cloud WiFi" had been installed I thought wow they are now looking to get businesses involved and build up a loyalty from them too. I can't deny it I was impressed and thought they were a forward thinking company.
Until NOW due to their issues with car parking they have instructed "MET Parking Services Ltd" to discourage their customers by enforcing very unfair parking fines.
I have recently discovered that they have a strict rule on car parking which means that unless you can all turn up at exactly the same time and get parked and leave within a 60 / 75 / 90 min restriction then there is no point trying to meet there. It may be that this is their goal and driving the business man away from their eateries even late at night is what they want to do.
A £4.39 meal can very quickly turn into a £104.39 meal if you don't keep an eye on the time, I know it's fast food but then why have WiFi in the first place?
See this clip from Watchdog in 2010 where members of the public have been heavily peanalised for using the restaurant more than once in a short period too.
http://bbc.in/oneUKg
They have gained a parking fine of cash from this "PAST" customer and lost a lifetime of future sales. Not such good marketing in the end then because they stopped valuing their customers and focussed on dealing with a small issue by force not power.... What your customers say about your business is far more powerful than anything you can say whether that be positive or NEGATIVE!
Saturday, 27 August 2011
WH Smith customers lose out to small print with McDonald's special offers
Here is a classic example of how large companies use psychology of the British shopper to get more sales.
McDonald's will have researched what % of WH Smith customers also buy from them. Then in an attempt to increase sales they have an exclusive offer for their customers. Which is where the vouchers being handed out all over the country come into play.
On the face of it this looks great until you go to redeem your offer.
On the small print you can see " not valid at restaurants with a drive through "
How many McDonald's do you know that "DONT" have a drive through?
If you went to use an offer but found out at the counter you couldn't would you go or pay the full price?
Answer these questions and you will see how making you feel awkward will get them more sales.
On the plus side for those who read the offer correctly sales in the towns and cities high streets should increase and the consumer will be happy too.
The offers are good value and legitimate the term of the exclusion is where the issues lie.
Have a great weekend :-)
Thursday, 16 June 2011
This Is Lyoness The Greatest Shopping Community now In The UK
Check this video out and if you have any questions then ask me! This is going to be massive in the UK and across the World too. Intelligent shopping using all the right things for people, business and good causes.
With Lyoness you get Cash Back with every purchase save money and join the shopping community of the future.
With Lyoness you get Cash Back with every purchase save money and join the shopping community of the future.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.P.S. Remember you have a choice how you feel about things in life don't let others or the inner voice of doubt stop you from being who you really are!Enjoy life and have a great day...
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Community Marketing and what it really means to you
Well this is where marketing has been heading for some time.
There have been so many clever people showing how you can make people believe you are this or are that.
The old addage of people buy people is so much truer today than it has ever been. Your community buy from you first and foremost or rather it's what you stand for that they buy.
If you are looking for a one off sale then traditional advertising and marketing can work for you buy even then people research.
When was the last time you bought something new without checking it out on the internet or with a friend or member of the family?
Facebook and Twitter have formed their own communities and this kind of thing is going on all the time. So if you are not in touch you have no way of making sure your voice is heard.
From a business point of view interaction and communication have become the keys to success and these are major parts of community marketing. Positioning yourself as the expert in your field AND someone you can trust to do the best by their customers.
This isn't about being clever or trickery it's about being true to you, your business and your community whether it be a local community or an online community.
For help and advice on how to do this for your business get in touch I really am here to help : )
Instant Updates For Instant Results
What are you're customers saying about you?
Do you know?
We can help you find out what makes your customers tick....
Call me 07990640374
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
There have been so many clever people showing how you can make people believe you are this or are that.
The old addage of people buy people is so much truer today than it has ever been. Your community buy from you first and foremost or rather it's what you stand for that they buy.
If you are looking for a one off sale then traditional advertising and marketing can work for you buy even then people research.
When was the last time you bought something new without checking it out on the internet or with a friend or member of the family?
Facebook and Twitter have formed their own communities and this kind of thing is going on all the time. So if you are not in touch you have no way of making sure your voice is heard.
From a business point of view interaction and communication have become the keys to success and these are major parts of community marketing. Positioning yourself as the expert in your field AND someone you can trust to do the best by their customers.
This isn't about being clever or trickery it's about being true to you, your business and your community whether it be a local community or an online community.
For help and advice on how to do this for your business get in touch I really am here to help : )
Instant Updates For Instant Results
What are you're customers saying about you?
Do you know?
We can help you find out what makes your customers tick....
Call me 07990640374
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Thursday, 9 June 2011
ONE ENCHANTED EVENING WITH DAVID KENT A LEICESTER EXTRAVGANZA
Great Meeting Unitarian Chapel, Leicester
Friday 24th June 2011
Lovers of musical theatre should not miss David Kent’s concert, One Enchanted Evening, at Leicester’s Great Meeting Unitarian Chapel on Friday 24th June, to raise money for the Chapel’s Grand Piano Fund. Accompanied by David Hubery at the piano, David Kent will be performing a selection of songs including favourite show tunes from Les Misérables, My Fair Lady, Joseph and South Pacific, as well as hits by Tom Lehrer, Bette Midler and ABBA. Tickets cost £7, which will include wine and nibbles in the Garden Room.
A graduate of The London School of Musical Theatre, David Kent is an accomplished performer who has starred in many West End and off-West End shows, including ‘Songs For A New World’ and ‘Creatures Of The Night’. He has released several acclaimed CD’s, including ‘As I Am’ and ‘One Enchanted Evening’, and is a pantomime veteran! He will be taking his own show, Uglies Do Edinburgh – the further adventures of the Ugly Sisters after Cinderella has married her handsome prince – written with co-star Dereck Walker, to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe this August.
Originally constructed in 1708, Leicester ’s Unitarian Chapel is the city’s oldest brick building, facing the Highcross shopping centre, which is one of the newest. The Grand Piano Appeal aims to raise £900 to purchase a metal floor frame on wheels to strengthen the chapel’s existing grand piano and enable it to be moved more easily and safely.
So don’t miss out on an evening that will not only be thoroughly entertaining, but will also be raising money for a great cause!
Listings info:
Friday 24th June
One Enchanted Evening, starring David Kent
Great Meeting Unitarian Chapel
LE1 4SX
Tickets: £7, available on door
Advance booking: please call 01509 812236 or visit www.davidkentevents.yolasite.com
Doors open: 7.00pm Showtime: 7.30pm
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Realtime Is The Marketing Of Today And It's Driven By Customer Opinion
Remember the days when you could put together your brand and marketing plans to tell people why they should buy from you?
Good old days weren't they?
But then your clients got smarter and wiser they no longer rely on you to tell them what to buy and when to buy. They now all research products, companies and service reports before they consider parting with their hard earned cash.
There are many businesses out there who are unaware of the new realtime movement in their customer bases I hope you are not one of them.
We all want reassuring that we are making the right choice in everything we do right?
Well so do your customers that's why they will look to see what your other customers are saying and they want it "Now" not in three days they want to know what your latest customer thought of your service "Today!"
With the internet there is so much information available for people to make informed choices from reviews on sites such as "Trip Advisor" "Amazon" "Ebay" "Thbestof" "Trusted Reviews" and many many more.
This is so important that you must not miss this:
"Your Brand is not owned by YOU it belongs to Your CUSTOMERS and what they say about you will either build or destroy YOUR BRAND in the market place"
This might seem a bit harsh to you but think about it sensibly, how they feel about your service and products is a direct reflection of how your business is performing. It's the mirror image of what you have created and is therefore information you MUST make sure you know.
Customer interaction will ensure you know your business and can continuously improve your business to match your customers needs desires and wants. Set up a system of customer feed back and don't be afraid of negative comments as they may be solutions to your biggest growth and opportunity.
With the positive comments make sure you get them out into the market place and attribute them to whoever made them. Include testimonials in your web content, flyers, brochures, newspaper adverts, radio adverts and remember to put them up in your place of work for everyone to see. It's amazing how a good testimonial about a member of staff can boost their moral and self belief and their work rate and customer service....
That's enough from me for now so go away and put your system in place and measure the change in your business.
Enjoy Great Things... you deserve to
A Great Testimonial From One Of Our Early Clients
David hired us as a Business Consultants in 2006
Top qualities: Personable, Good Value, High Integrity
“I have involved John in a number of projects for us over the past few years, and have always found him
to be unfailingly helpful, with high integrity, and a strong desire to deliver the best value and results he can for his clients. His willingness to go the extra mile for people is just a normal part of his work ethic, and as a result it is always a pleasure to do business with him.”
Thanks David looking forward to hearing from you soon.
P.S. Remember you have a choice how you feel about things in life don't let others or the inner voice of doubt stop you from being who you really are!
Enjoy life and have a great day...
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
What great news for the people and businesses of Leicester. The city is on the official tour route of the 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.
This really is great news as the people of Leicester have had little apart from the Leicester Tigers to shout about.
The city has a very diverse number of cultures all working and living alongside each other. This is great to a point but has tended to lead to a lack of combined focussed direction. To speak with many in the street they feel they are often second best, but nothing could be further from the truth.
At last there is a common cause that crosses all cultural divides that we can all get behind. The Olympic Torch Relay is a massive honour for the City of Leicester and I'm sure the celebration and greeting will be amazing for all to see.
The people and businesses of Leicester have an amazing ability to adapt to change very quickly while still delivering the service levels that people else where would love to experience.
With our very own Team GB being based very near by in Loughborough will add to the atmosphere. Roll on 2nd July 2012 when the Olympic Torch is paraded through the streets of Leicester and Abbey Park.
Instant Updates For Instant Results
What are you're customers saying about you?
Do you know?
We can help you find out what makes your customers tick....
Call me 07990640374
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
The city has a very diverse number of cultures all working and living alongside each other. This is great to a point but has tended to lead to a lack of combined focussed direction. To speak with many in the street they feel they are often second best, but nothing could be further from the truth.
At last there is a common cause that crosses all cultural divides that we can all get behind. The Olympic Torch Relay is a massive honour for the City of Leicester and I'm sure the celebration and greeting will be amazing for all to see.
The people and businesses of Leicester have an amazing ability to adapt to change very quickly while still delivering the service levels that people else where would love to experience.
With our very own Team GB being based very near by in Loughborough will add to the atmosphere. Roll on 2nd July 2012 when the Olympic Torch is paraded through the streets of Leicester and Abbey Park.
Instant Updates For Instant Results
What are you're customers saying about you?
Do you know?
We can help you find out what makes your customers tick....
Call me 07990640374
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Test your nerve on the high rope assault course at Leicester outdoor pursuits centre in Birstal
What are you're customers saying about you?
Do you know?
We can help you find out what makes your customers tick....
Call me 07990640374
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Saturday, 14 May 2011
One of the cleverest packaging solutions I've seen for a long time!
This is a brilliant solution to make this product stand out from it's competitors.
P.S. You can buy these in The Deli in Kibworth Leicestershire they do a great latte coffee too :-)
Instant Updates For Instant Results
What are you're customers saying about you?
Do you know?
We can help you find out what makes your customers tick....
Call me 07990640374
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Sunday, 8 May 2011
For The Businesses Who Are Not Sure If They Should Be Using Social Media As Part Of Their Business And Marketing Strategy
Well I just thought some simple statistics could make a little difference to your opinion of social media lets have a look:
Facebook has over 500,000,000 registered accounts with over 600,000,000 monthly searches that's over 2300 every second.
Twitter the new kid on the block only has 100,000,000 registered accounts but have a massively higher number of searches at around 18,000,000,000 to put that in context that's nearly 70,000 per second every second.
Just for the fact that people are searching for the services you offer or at least are interested in them should be enough for you to think and re-think about the value of social media. But the real value is not in the searches it's in the contact and relationship building you can do with clients and prospective clients.
There you have it a very short Blog but hopefully a though provoking one.....
Facebook has over 500,000,000 registered accounts with over 600,000,000 monthly searches that's over 2300 every second.
Twitter the new kid on the block only has 100,000,000 registered accounts but have a massively higher number of searches at around 18,000,000,000 to put that in context that's nearly 70,000 per second every second.
Just for the fact that people are searching for the services you offer or at least are interested in them should be enough for you to think and re-think about the value of social media. But the real value is not in the searches it's in the contact and relationship building you can do with clients and prospective clients.
There you have it a very short Blog but hopefully a though provoking one.....
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Chewies a fantastic food and coffee shop in Steeles Village in London
What are you're customers saying about you?
Do you know?
We can help you find out what makes your customers tick....
Call me 07990640374
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Thursday, 21 April 2011
How to get your boat to come in!
It will come as no shock to you that they have been saying this for years. what they have done is hand their future over to chance.
there are 3 types of prole in this world:
1 those who don't know what they want to happen
2 those how wait and wish for things to happen
3 those that make things happen
Which one are you at the moment? A good friend of mine puts it even simpler. You are either a waiter or a creator!
So to get back to the initial question of how do you get your boat to come in?
Focussed and sustained effort towards that goal. Positive thinking is nice but means very little withoir positive action.
So get your dreams out in the open focus on them and act towards achieving them.
Speak soon :-)
Instant Updates For Instant Results
What are you're customers saying about you?
Do you know?
We can help you find out what makes your customers tick....
Call me 07990640374
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Today's Marketing tip: Personalise your marketing to massively increase you response.
When you are putting together any marketing material bring some of your personality through. You can include images, hand written representations and even a snippet or two of your life story.
Remember it's you your customers buy at the end of the day so make it easy for them to say yes. All you marketing is about a communication between you and your customers the better the communication the more sales you will get.
Have a great evening!
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We can help you find out what makes your customers tick....
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Remember it's you your customers buy at the end of the day so make it easy for them to say yes. All you marketing is about a communication between you and your customers the better the communication the more sales you will get.
Have a great evening!
Instant Updates For Instant Results
What are you're customers saying about you?
Do you know?
We can help you find out what makes your customers tick....
Call me 07990640374
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Today's Marketing tip: Time Management doesn't have to take forever! 3 easy ways to manage your time better!
I thought it best to not send this too early in the day.
When you are putting together your marketing there is always a temptation to want it to be perfect before you send it. There are several takes on this:
1. Remember good in some, no most cases is good enough, it is more important to send out your marketing than it is for it to be perfect. You can always refine it as you go " test and measure". A nice phrase I heard explains it "ready, fire then aim".
2. Set yourself a deadline! This will stop too much procrastination and make you get on with it.
3. Make it easy to track if you over complicate this part of it you will have no time left to create new stuff.
There you go simple but true ways to save time on your marketing.
The most obvious one outside of this is to get someone else to do it for you. Have a great evening another tip tomorrow
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When you are putting together your marketing there is always a temptation to want it to be perfect before you send it. There are several takes on this:
1. Remember good in some, no most cases is good enough, it is more important to send out your marketing than it is for it to be perfect. You can always refine it as you go " test and measure". A nice phrase I heard explains it "ready, fire then aim".
2. Set yourself a deadline! This will stop too much procrastination and make you get on with it.
3. Make it easy to track if you over complicate this part of it you will have no time left to create new stuff.
There you go simple but true ways to save time on your marketing.
The most obvious one outside of this is to get someone else to do it for you. Have a great evening another tip tomorrow
Instant Updates For Instant Results
What are you're customers saying about you?
Do you know?
We can help you find out what makes your customers tick....
Call me 07990640374
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
Tuesday's Marketing tip: 90% of Businesses fail in first 5 years. How knowing your numbers will mean you are not one of them!
This is always a sensitive subject for small business owners to talk about. Many feel that such questions are about them and can feel challenged by this concept. As much as a PMA is important for a business the numbers will tell the owner if it's working or not.
So what are these mysterious numbers?
1. What is your average customer worth on a yearly basis?
2. How many customers do you have?
3. What is your average sale?
4. How often do your current customers but from you?
5. How many years do your customers stay with you?
6. How much do you invest in gaining new customers?
7. How many does this get you?
8. How many of your customers have referred a new customer to you?
9. How much do you invest in the incentive for referred customers?
When you look at the answers to these question and get your numbers it will be obvious where the changes need to be made. For example if you need to invest more than the value of a customer in your marketing to get a new customer it might be time to look at the way you are doing that. You will also see if you have a viable business before you run into too much trouble.
It's amazing how many people are not pro active in getting referred new customers. They just rely on passive word of mouth.
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What are you're customers saying about you?
Do you know?
We can help you find out what makes your customers tick....
Call me 07990640374
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
So what are these mysterious numbers?
1. What is your average customer worth on a yearly basis?
2. How many customers do you have?
3. What is your average sale?
4. How often do your current customers but from you?
5. How many years do your customers stay with you?
6. How much do you invest in gaining new customers?
7. How many does this get you?
8. How many of your customers have referred a new customer to you?
9. How much do you invest in the incentive for referred customers?
When you look at the answers to these question and get your numbers it will be obvious where the changes need to be made. For example if you need to invest more than the value of a customer in your marketing to get a new customer it might be time to look at the way you are doing that. You will also see if you have a viable business before you run into too much trouble.
It's amazing how many people are not pro active in getting referred new customers. They just rely on passive word of mouth.
Instant Updates For Instant Results
What are you're customers saying about you?
Do you know?
We can help you find out what makes your customers tick....
Call me 07990640374
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Monday, 11 April 2011
Monday Marketing Tip: Mastering your marketing!
Well hope you had a great weekend and here is Monday's marketing tip.
Mastering your marketing may seem a long way off especially if you are struggling to measure it all. The phrase "less is more" should be at the top of you list.
Marketing is not about doing hundreds of things a few times to see if they work it's about selecting 6 or 7 things that you know or feel are working and doing them hundreds or even thousands of times. Measuring your marketing is key and it is easier to measure a few things done well than it is to juggle loads of things done poorly.
This will take determination and discipline but once you master a few areas of marketing it is easier to introduce new ideas and measure them too.
Have a great week and look out for me in and around Leicester.
I am giving some of my Social Media tips to the Leicester city centre retailers on Wednesday night! It will be great fun and giving is always so rewarding especially in the long run :-)
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What are you're customers saying about you?
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We can help you find out what makes your customers tick....
Call me 07990640374
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Mastering your marketing may seem a long way off especially if you are struggling to measure it all. The phrase "less is more" should be at the top of you list.
Marketing is not about doing hundreds of things a few times to see if they work it's about selecting 6 or 7 things that you know or feel are working and doing them hundreds or even thousands of times. Measuring your marketing is key and it is easier to measure a few things done well than it is to juggle loads of things done poorly.
This will take determination and discipline but once you master a few areas of marketing it is easier to introduce new ideas and measure them too.
Have a great week and look out for me in and around Leicester.
I am giving some of my Social Media tips to the Leicester city centre retailers on Wednesday night! It will be great fun and giving is always so rewarding especially in the long run :-)
Instant Updates For Instant Results
What are you're customers saying about you?
Do you know?
We can help you find out what makes your customers tick....
Call me 07990640374
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Friday, 8 April 2011
Marketing tip for the weekend! How to get a brochure that closes a sale without you being there!
Well the sun is shining and everyone is feeling much better. The retail and housing markets are starting to move.
It's time if you are B2B to make sure you have a brochure for the prospect to "think it over" or "can you send me something in the post?"
Both these are just a reason for you to send some of your hard earned profit to go in their recycling pile.
However there is a way to capture a few of these time wasters and get them interested in you and your business.
Make your brochure a valuable information pack about their industry sector and how using a product like yours improves their business or saves them from a pitfall. But don't give them all the information leave the actual way and total value to them for you to go out and explain personally.
Curiosity on how they can do better or protect themselves from doing worse is a powerfull thing so use it! :-)
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What are you're customers saying about you?
Do you know?
We can help you find out what makes your customers tick....
Call me 07990640374
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
It's time if you are B2B to make sure you have a brochure for the prospect to "think it over" or "can you send me something in the post?"
Both these are just a reason for you to send some of your hard earned profit to go in their recycling pile.
However there is a way to capture a few of these time wasters and get them interested in you and your business.
Make your brochure a valuable information pack about their industry sector and how using a product like yours improves their business or saves them from a pitfall. But don't give them all the information leave the actual way and total value to them for you to go out and explain personally.
Curiosity on how they can do better or protect themselves from doing worse is a powerfull thing so use it! :-)
Instant Updates For Instant Results
What are you're customers saying about you?
Do you know?
We can help you find out what makes your customers tick....
Call me 07990640374
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Thursday, 7 April 2011
Leaflets and 5 simple ways to get the best results from them
Leaflets just one way to promote your business yet most of the time they cost you more than they return.
Have you ever wondered why?
Do you plan to fail?
Sounds a strange thing to say in this modern day of positive thinking but look at it this way. If you plan to fail 95% of the time knowing that you will still make a profit it's better than needing to succeed 50% of the time to break even.
If you know you only need a small response from your flyers to make a profit it's easier to see the point of sending them out.
Let's look at 5 ways to make leaflets work for you.
1. Make sure they are of value to the prospects you are sending them to. Write them as if they were coming through your door.
2. Have a trackable offer that is unique to the leaflets so you don't have to ask where people found you as you will already know.
3. Keep to one message sell one specific part of your business or have one call to action "to claim your offer phone us now!" or "pop into our showroom to claim you special offer" don't mix the message by trying to sell all of your business on one flyer.
4. Give them some credible information from a valid source that also reinforces why they should buy your product " One of the main reasons 95% of businesses fail in their first 5 years is poor and inconsistent marketing" The Marketing Group.
5. Make sure they are not a one off. It is much more effective to send 1000 flyers to the same targeted prospects 10 times than it is to send out 10000 flyers out just once.
Follow these 5 marketing rules and you will more than quadruple the response from a campaign that doesn't.
Instant Updates For Instant Results
What are you're customers saying about you?
Do you know?
We can help you find out what makes your customers tick....
Call me 07990640374
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Have you ever wondered why?
Do you plan to fail?
Sounds a strange thing to say in this modern day of positive thinking but look at it this way. If you plan to fail 95% of the time knowing that you will still make a profit it's better than needing to succeed 50% of the time to break even.
If you know you only need a small response from your flyers to make a profit it's easier to see the point of sending them out.
Let's look at 5 ways to make leaflets work for you.
1. Make sure they are of value to the prospects you are sending them to. Write them as if they were coming through your door.
2. Have a trackable offer that is unique to the leaflets so you don't have to ask where people found you as you will already know.
3. Keep to one message sell one specific part of your business or have one call to action "to claim your offer phone us now!" or "pop into our showroom to claim you special offer" don't mix the message by trying to sell all of your business on one flyer.
4. Give them some credible information from a valid source that also reinforces why they should buy your product " One of the main reasons 95% of businesses fail in their first 5 years is poor and inconsistent marketing" The Marketing Group.
5. Make sure they are not a one off. It is much more effective to send 1000 flyers to the same targeted prospects 10 times than it is to send out 10000 flyers out just once.
Follow these 5 marketing rules and you will more than quadruple the response from a campaign that doesn't.
Instant Updates For Instant Results
What are you're customers saying about you?
Do you know?
We can help you find out what makes your customers tick....
Call me 07990640374
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
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